Car accidents happen all the time on our roads. Whether it’s a small bumper bashing or a fatal head-on collision, we all hope that we will never be the victims of such accidents. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and while the trauma of going through such an ideal can be life-changing, often having to manage the admin after the accident can be just as bad.
If you have ever been involved in an accident, no matter how big or small, you’ll know that the costs of repair to your vehicle add up quickly. Nobody wants to find themselves in a situation where your car has been damaged, or worse, stolen, and you’re having to cover all the costs from your own pocket. That’s where insurance companies come in. While everyone hopes not to be a victim of any type of car accident, it is always better to be on the safe side.
We as South African consumers are often our own worst enemy. We have exceedingly high expectations from our short-term insurance companies; however, we don’t always see the value in including car insurance in our budget until we are involved in an accident. There’s nothing worse than having to deal with bad service and claim rejections from your insurance
provider.
Luckily, the insurance industry in South Africa is saturated with many great players, but it’s not always easy to pick the company that fits you best. Not to worry, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of what to look for when choosing a car
insurance broker and then let you in our take of South Africa’s best car insurance providers:
When choosing an insurer that is right for both you and your car, few things need to be taken into consideration:
Price vs Value – An age-old discussion. Make sure you find insurance cover that is not only affordable but is comprehensive too.
Waiting Periods – How long do you need to wait before you are covered or even claim.
Communication – Does the insurance company keep you in the loop regarding your claim, where it is in the process, and how long it will take to get your car repaired? This is extremely important, as nothing can be more frustrating.
In no particular order, take a look at our picks of the best car insurance companies in South Africa
As one of the newer players in the market, King Price believes in decreasing car premiums as your car depreciates. A clear player in the price war game. What they offer:
Offering all three types of car insurance, the AA offers affordable insurance premiums combined with great value adds that can be added to your contract. The AA also cater to citizens over the age of 60 with premiums tailored to their needs.
As one of the key players in the market, Discovery offers a wide range of insurance products, as well as optional extras and value adds.
Customizable, flexible car insurance cover according to your needs. Miway also offers a product called “Total Loss” which covers customers for the loss of their vehicle in hi-jackings, theft, or when written-off. Miway also offers customers who purchase their insurance online, 1 month’s premiums back after 3 months.
Miway prides itself on being an insurer you can trust as they were awarded the best provider in the Auto/Car Insurance category in Ask Afrika’s 2019/20 Icon Brands Survey.
OUTsurance offers car insurance into two different categories, namely Comprehensive and Essential. One of the biggest drawcards to OUTsurance is the cash-back incentive they offer if they can’t beat your current car insurance premium.
Offering comprehensive car insurance that ensures protection against damage, third party claims, and theft. Santam has introduced a product called SmartPark which saves you 20% on your premium if you are driving less than 15 000 km a year.
Budget car insurance offers affordable premiums for comprehensive, limited, and third-party, fire
and theft as well as third party only car insurance.
Car insurance designed specifically for women. Offering three different levels of car insurance depending on your requirements, comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only car insurance. Each insurance option comes standard with a variety of value-added products designed to keep you and your family safe on the road or at home.
Offering insurance for cars, bikes, caravans, trailers, golf carts, and more. The better car product offered by Dial Direct is an upgraded version of the comprehensive cover and offers a pay-out of a newer model car if your car is written off.
